~One in a million~Pt3-pg27 NOTE-pg 31 17/07 (Page 10)

Page 10 of 35

everlastingwordSenior Member

hey jia... another of your fantastic storylines with lots of surprises and romance!! but this one seems one in a million...got me hooked even by a 'short' (yes it is exceptionally short) intro. Ah....Mr.Hamilton....burdened with his family name...but on second thoughts, is it just his name that gets women mad after him..?? chalo dekhte hai! looking forward to the dinner date.. mia

jia..IF-Rockerz

As soon as she entered
her suite RiddhimaGupta glanced down at her wet dress and gave a frustrated
sigh. So much for starting this day on a good note .She needed to look great
and presentable….not like a drowned cat. She walked up to the mirror to see her
hair sticking to her face…..so much for use the best of the conditioner and
shampoo as well she thought grumpily. Not only was her body smelling of
chlorine but her hair was in a similar mess as well thanks to her dip in the
pool. She shouldn't have taken the short route to the lawn via the pool. She
was already running behind schedule. Her director certainly wasn't going to
like her coming about an hour and half late for the first briefing on the
advertisement they were supposed to be shooting to the next day.

Stripping off the wet
clothes she ran to the bathroom meaning to grab a quick shower. As she lathered
her hair with the shampoo vigorously again and felt the cool water from the
shower trickle down her thoughts wandered to the pool incidents yet again. She
hadn't given much thought to the man who supposedly saved her from drowning.
Her sole aim in the entire trip from the
pool to her hotel suite was to get up here quickly as possible and get out of
the messy wet clothes. If her director or her photographer of the shoot had
seen her in this mess….she would have become a good laughing stock not to
mention butt of a joke. Budding model RiddhimaGupta slips into the pool only to be rescued by the CEO of the company she
had been hired to do the advertisement for??

Turning of the shower
Riddhima quickly grabbed the bathrobe and matched out. Her meeting with ArmaanHamilton had been as much of a shock as well a nervous
encounter. Imagine slipping in to the pool and landing straight into the arms of
the CEO of company you're modeling for!!

And to top it all he
thought she did not recognize him??? AdityaSharma?? Riddhima snorted as she pulled out a fresh pair of briefs and a new
dress from her wardrobe. Only a total naive idiot wouldn't be able to recognize
him. All business, celeb magazines were full of him. Maybe he had lied to her
on purpose……for some other motive….whatever had been his motive she wasn't
interested Riddhima told her self zipping up her dress.

She returned to her
mirror and started applying the base of the makeup. She had to concentrate on
looking great, fresh…and not think about her boss. ArmaanHamilton was her boss even though he wouldn't know her. A new
model on the block……doing an ad film for his company wasn't going to be known
to ArmaanHamilton. Heck he had several such models and actress
propagating his company…..maybe like every other man loaded with money to the
brink made such women his targets. Oh heck why was she thinking about him
again??? Riddhima irritably starred at herself as she carefully traced the lip
liner around her already dark pinkish lips coated with gloss……her thoughts
returned to the man upsetting her equilibrium. He had invited her out to
dinner. Oh yes she new it why….he was clearly interested in pleasuring himself
in the company of a woman…and men like him didn't miss out chances……men like
Armaan Hamilton were just too lethal.

ArmaanHamilton…..His family ran Hamilton Industries, the parent corporation for the cell
phone company doing the ad campaign she was posing for. While Indo-American
(which explained the surname Hamilton) his grandfather and father still played an active
role in running the business, analysts agreed that Armaan was responsible for
most of Hamilton Industries' expansion in the last five years.

He'd gotten them in at ground level with cell
phone service to parts of Asia and Europe as well as negotiating investment in other high tech
ventures that had paid off hugely for the more than hundred-year-old,
multibillion dollar, family controlled company. He wasn't the only member of
his generation involved with the company, but thus far, he'd been the most
successful.

Riddhima had done her homework, learning what
she could about both the company and product she was supposed to be
representing……..as she always did for a job. As her mom often said, it never
hurt to be prepared. Only she had the distinct feeling that nothing could have
equipped her for seeing the billionaire in person for the first time. She'd seen photos, but the pictures
accompanying articles in prominent business journals hadn't begun to catch the
essence of the man…..who had made millions…... The flat two-dimensional images
had in no way alluded to Armaan Hamilton's sheer animal magnetism or overwhelming
masculine presence.

Woahhh!!! Riddhima gave
an aghast look at herself in the mirror. From when did she start analyzing
men??? No way…men were completely out of her picture for now. Her only passion
was her career. Her only love was her job. And making her dear mother and
herself proud!!

ArmaanHamilton or AdityaSharma would have to just back off……there was going to be no dinner
tonight……she knew she had said yes in a state of nervousness of running into
her boss in pool. But now back in her senses there was no way she was
entertaining her boss. Deciding so Riddhima clutched her purse and walked out
of her room.

***************************

Armaan smiled as he
closed his eyes resting his head on the back pf his chair in his mini office he
had set up in his penthouse. He opened an eye lid and looked at the cluster of
papers on his desk. Gosh he had a lot of work to be done as yet. And here he
was…..having all irrational thoughts about a woman he barely had met. He didn't
even know who she was. Sitting up he frowned. He had better work through the
papers to prepare for his meeting. The sole aim of him coming here all the way
to Singapore was to attend the conference in place of his
father……and to prove to his father that he was a responsible son. Six years of
working rigorously for the company…..and still his father doubted his
capabilities.

"You still need to grow
up son." His father would say every time they talked.

"When I was your age….I
managed the entire company with your grandfather…and looked after my wife and
our infant son which was you….look at you….still single…with a already built up
company. You need to push yourself harder by and think about getting married.
Though I doubt you are ready for a wife…we need a heir…your grandfather wants
to see his grandchild's face before he goes to the grave."

That was his father
Armaan thought grimly. Controlling, dominating and arrogant. He thought he
could run the world on his terms. Everyone should talk and walk as he ordered
them to. How had his mother survived so many years with a control freak was
still a mystery to Armaan. But now he himself was growing weary. He had worked
his ass off….in the past six years, taking the company to new heights and still
his father expected him to grow up??? And now there was this new issue. Find a
suitable Hamilton bride.

"You might not be ready
as yet Armaan…but its time…..we need the next generation." His father would
say. His mother had already gone steps ahead….under his father's instruction he
suspected….had presented him with a list too. Of all suitable brides-to be. All
beautiful….classy….mostly with little brains…who would be happy to be his
wife…..play the perfect hostess…the perfect Hamilton bride…mother his child.
Just like his own mother.

But did anyone care what
Armaan wanted?? Apparently no........ Armaan thought picking up and rolling the pen
between his fingers aimlessly. Usually his father kept him under his eyes. But
this one of those few times he had sent Armaan. And he was going to make most
of this time. To loosen up. True he had to overlook the ad campaign of his
company and the upcoming conference but he would take this time to sort out
himself. Heck he had grown up…unlike what his father believed. And he was ready
to share the responsibility too. He might have kept a low head incase of
business matters…but heck he wasn't going to allow his father or mother to
choose his bride. He would decide who was suitable for him.

Which brought him back to
the woman he had met. She was beautiful. It was time he got back to the dating
scene. Heck he hadn't even once dated past the entire year. While belonging to a multimillionaire
family……the playboy obvious image was attached to his name Armaan begged to
differ. He didn't even recollect spending an evening with just a few friends
forget a woman.

His cell phone rang and
Armaan grimaced as he saw his father's name flash on screen. He braced himself
for the usual weekly torturous lecture.

"Hello dad." He greeted
on picking up the call.

"You screwed up son."
Some way to greet his son Armaan thought gritting his teeth.

"A good afternoon to you
dad firstly…..What did

I supposedly screw up
this time?'' Armaan asked keeping his tone polite.

"John told me last week you only incorporated three
of the special features in into the design of our new model we are launching
instead of four. That kind of mistake is unacceptable."

Armaan clung tightly to
his anger but kept it secreted away for the moment.

"Actually, old man John changed his mind after the initial design was

complete. And I fixed it
while you were off on your little weekend getaway

with the new socialite on
the block.'' His father philandering ways well known. Even his mother knew that
his father never believed in fidelity…but still she never ever confronted him.

Armaan enjoyed these
moments the most, when VijayHamilton knew he'd been bested. But as always, his father
recovered quickly in order to get in another dig. Today it
came in record time.

"You sound like hell,
Armaan. Obviously you've been spending a lot of time

bed-hopping with women.
That's a distraction you can't afford, especially during this particular
project.'' Armaan held back the
string of curse words clamoring to climb out of his

mouth.

"You know something, Dad.
What I do in my off time is none of your

business. But for your
information, I'm not involved with anyone right now.

If that changes, rest
assured you'll be the last to know.''

Armaan could almost
imagine his father's jaw going rigid as his frame.

"I'm glad you're not involved with anyone. As
we are still finding a suitable bride for you. You need to be wise and careful
in choosing her."

Armaan shoved aside the
latest issue of a magazine and clamped his hands together on the desk. '"You're
right, I'm not ready to settle down. Considering the example
I've had, I may never be ready.''

"I can find a wife for
myself father when I wish and when I want. You don't need to keep reminding me.
I would rather suggest you take so much interest in your own wife of 30 years."
Armaan replied back irritably.

"No you cannot. You
aren't grown up enough to decide your life partner. And well the very fact you
dare talk about my marriage to your mother shows just how immature you are."

There he went again……
Armaan made an exaggerated show of checking his watch before turning his
attention back to his father.

"Anything else you'd like
to criticize, Dad? I've got a full schedule today. But I
could mark off a few hours for you tomorrow. You might want to bring a complete
list of my shortcomings.''

"Sarcasm is unbecoming,
Armaan."

"You taught me that,
too.'"

His father kept quite for
a long…… long moment.

"Maybe I have made my share of mistakes, but I
deserve more respect considering everything I've done for you since your birth…..''

You owe me, echoed in
Armaan's mind, even if those hadn't been his father's exact words. He scrubbed
a hand over his jaw.

"Yeah, Dad, I know what
you've done for me. You remind me often enough. But it seems to me that's what
you do for your kids, help them out. And you shouldn't expect someone to bleed
in return."

"I don't expect you to
bleed. I do expect you to be grateful for what you

have. And it would be
nice if you'd grow up.''

With a palpable
arrogance, VijayHamilton cut the call leaving Armaan hurt and lonely. Getting
up he went to the mini bar and helped himself with a cool glass of water.
Gulping down the liquid Armaan stared at the glass. Wasn't it natural for
parents to raise their children and mold them? Children aren't expected to
payback this way or feel obligated to their parents for raising them. That bond
between a father or a mother with his child should be the one of
love…compassion. It shouldn't be "I raised you so your turn to pay me" kind of
a bond. But maybe it was for his father. he never had that bond with his mother
either. She was a meek little mouse…..dominated by her husband.

Oh to hell with
everything. He should be looking forward to the evening with this beautiful
woman Armaan though putting down the glass. There was knock on the
door…….breaking him out of his thoughts. Armaan muttered "Come in" only to find
a waiter standing

"Sir there was this note
for you left at the reception." He handed him a note left.

Mystified Armaan closed
the door and opened it. It read.

"I don't know if you
usually address your self as Aditya Sharma or was I the only exception Mr Hamilton. Never the less…..thankyou for saving me today.
Though I don't feel dinner is necessary nor am I worth it for you to waste your
time. Hope you enjoy your dinner Mr Armaan Hamilton.

Regards

Riddhima
Gupta"

Armaan frowned as he read
the note again. A smile tugged his lips. So the lady had known who he was. And
yet now refusing his dinner proposal??? And that too after she agreed once.

Well Riddhima was an
interesting woman then. Did she really intend to play such cat and mouse games
with him?? He knew women played them to garner interest from men. So was
Riddhima doing so as well??? She knew who he was afterall?? Well then he would
jut play along as well…..time to inquire more about RiddhimaGupta he decided picking up the phone again.

******************************

"Drop your head a little to the left. That's
right. Good, Riddhima, good."

Riddhima Gupta moved to the direction of the
photographer, the hot sun baking her skin despite the high factor
sunscreen slathered on under her body sheen. She didn't complain, though. The
shoot was her first truly big ad campaign as well as her first large
international contract.

At twenty-four, she was either on the cusp of
making it big in modeling, or sliding into mediocrity. Mediocrity was not an
option. She'd been modeling since her early teens and had sacrificed sleep,
chocolate and a social life for her chosen career. She was determined to make
it big.

It helped always that her mom was on her
side. A widow, who had raised Riddhima on her own, SmritiGupta was an amazing woman. She'd sacrificed herself for Riddhima's career
and loved her only daughter enough to remind her when to exercise and when not
to eat…too much. Her life was just her and her mom. Her father passed away
before Riddhima was born……..her life revolved just around her mother and her
career. If her mother had been liberal and supporting enough to allow Riddhima
to take up her choice of career…then Riddhima had decided to leave no stone
unturned to make her mother proud of herself.

Riddhima had been living on a low-calorie
diet so long, she didn't even get hungry anymore. Smriti was careful to make
sure that the food Riddhima did eat was bernutritious. She'd even given up her
own comforts so that she could afford to hire a personal trainer for Riddhima. SmritiGupta had provided Riddhima what she needed to tone her body into the perfect
form for modeling. Her mom's support of her dream meant
everything to Riddhima and she had every intention of repaying it with success.

"Okay…lift the phone like a victory fist and
smile."

Riddhima lifted the trim flip phone high in the
air and gave her signature smile, one that her agent said promised the world
and everything in it.

A whistle sounded from her left…behind
somewhere and unexpected tingles traveled up her spine and down her arms. It
was as if someone with an electric gaze was watching her. Which was just plain
silly. Superman might have X-ray vision, but he was fiction and no real person
actually had the ability to touch someone else with a look. Only, she felt
touched. Caressed even.

Doing her best to mentally shrug off the odd
feeling, she turned up the wattage on her smile and the whistle sounded again.
This time low and suggestive. It was all Riddhima could do not to clench her
thigh muscles. She never reacted like this.

Never.

A swear word hissed out between her perfect
teeth even as she maintained the smile for the numerous clicks of the
photographer's camera. What was wrong with her?

"Call a break." The voice rang with authority
and just the hint of an accent.

The photographer called the break and
Riddhima dropped the cell phone she'd been holding onto a nearby table. She
went to pull on a gauzy wrap, but two elegant, masculine hands were there
before hers.

The wrap was held open waiting for her to
slide her arms into it. "Come,sweetheart, you must cover such perfect skin from
the heat of the sun."

She allowed him to draw the wrap up her arms,
a sense of unreality stifling her. She had not even seen his face yet and felt
as if they were intimately acquainted. Impossible. And just slightly terrifying.

"Whose not so brilliant idea was it to work
during the hottest part of the day?" he asked in a voice that carried as far as
the photographer.

"It is
perfect right now, Sir…there is just the right amount of light out here……" the
ad campaign manager said in a much less authoritative voice than Riddhima had
ever heard from him while she saw the photographer hurry over out of the corner
of her eye.

"Are we not civilized? Does not the woman here
demand rest, not work during the hottest part of the day?"

"I apologize, Sir. If we had known you wished
to oversee the shoot, we would have arranged it for a different time." The man behind Riddhima laughed, the sound
warm and rich, like chocolate sauce pouring over French vanilla ice cream. "It
is not myself I am concerned about."

That strange urge to clench her thigh muscles
hit her again and she had to force herself to step out from under the hands now
resting on her shoulders. When had she ever wanted to prolong a man's touch?
She could not remember a single instance. Men were business associates or props
for photo shoots, nothing more. Ad the way this man was affecting her seemed a bit off balance.....and scary.....dangerous.

She turned to face the man upsetting her
equilibrium and got her second glimpse of Armaan Hamilton standing right behind
her………

***************

Ok
folks part 1 up here. I hope honestly it isn't a it disappointing. Love
u all loads and heaps for the wonderful support u all haven given me. thats for all u wonderful people out there!!

Thats
what makes me handle all four....seems crazy i know. Anyways talking
abt this one.....pls do give me ur views....u knw they r the only fall
backs for me....else i dont see myself even writing a word. Looking
forward eagerly to ur honest opinion....I cudnt reply to all the
comments...will do so by tomorrow morning. Pls do leave ur views and
yes to al those who read my other ff's....will be updating them all
starting from tomorrow. Love u guys...pls take care!!

PS: Um removing the short word for this ff....errr dunno myself how long this will go...so might as well remove it....and mind u...no laughing and giving me that knowing smile!!! I knw um the laughing stock here :D Love u all loads!! Muahz!!

pickytgGoldie

fab update JJ..chumaaz for yah! tis a short one yeh? i would like to see it just that..its interestin and strong to its own benefits...!the chars are so determined in their shoes yet sliding to the slightests nerves...!! contradiction....i like! :P ....ter was tis one line....i luved...."...prominent business journals hadn't begun to catch the
essence of the man" ..not the line by itsels bt luved how u mde use of it...wit an impact yet ground level! :D ....mast hai babes!!

kashishkIF-Sizzlerz

Hey Jia,I am sorry for being late, I was just sick and still am.Anyways I don't know but I expected that this FF will extend well we are talking about Jia right.Actually I never saw u complete ur short FF but I am so glad to see u continuing this one.Back to the part, as usual It was fantastic, awesome, I loved it.U r one of the best writers here and you get hooked people with ur FFs.So Ridhima already knew who he is.I am really looking forward to see them falling in love.Pls continue soon and thnx for the PM.

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